Posture chair



Feb. 18, 1964 A. H. ANDERSON POSTURE CHAIR Filed Aug. 29, 1962 55m (((gf INVENTOR ALFRED H. ANDERSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,121,592 PGETURE (IHAER Alfred H. Anderson, Fort Lauderdal-e, Fla assignor to The General Fireproofing Company, Youngstown, Uhio, a corporation or iled Aug. 29, 1%2, gar. No. 22%,263

Claims. (Cl. El -234) This invention relates to chairs intended to provide more comfortable support for the lumbar region of the occupants back.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide chairs of various types, for example, dental, medical, and oifice chairs, with various types of upholstered portions intended to more particularly conform to the human figure when sitting in an upright position, nevertheless, these desirable features have not been heretofore embodied in chairs for general use, more particularly office chairs, for the reason that the special structural features involved have been more or less complicated and therefore expensive to make and also to maintain in satisfactory useful condition.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a chair including an upright back rest having a fixed shoulder engaging panel at the upper portion thereof and an automatically self-adjusting lum bar engaging member supported from the upright backrest below the shoulder engaging panel, as distinguished from supporting such member from beneath the seat itself, as for example, by a so-called chair iron. In that connection, the present invention has a wide range of application. Since the lumbar engaging portion is carried by the upright backrest, it leaves the shoulder panel and seat portion undisturbed in the sense that they may be supported by suitable spring arrangements to permit spring tensioned tilting of the seat and backrest together as is commonly done in connection with ofiice chairs.

Another object is to provide simple and practical structural features for mounting and adjusting the lumbar member on the upright backrest as a whole and below the fixed shoulder panel in particular.

A further object is to provide means connected to the backrest adjacent and below the shoulder panel for yieldingly supporting the lumbar engaging member in a position forwardly of the panel and over a part of the rear seat itself, whereby the lumbar engaging memher will engage the body of the occupant prior to the upper portion of his torso engaging the shoulder panel.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention becomes more apparent, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a chair including the present improvements.

FIGURE 2. is a vertical cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of the relatively fixed shoulder panel and the lumbar engaging member supported therebelow.

FIGURE 3 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable support for the lumbar engaging member.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken through the spring supporting bracket beyond similar parts in HG. 2 to better show how the adjustable hanger of PEG. 3 is rockably supported on the bridge piece provided at the bottom edge of the shoulder panel.

FIGURE 5 is a detail perspective view of the bridge member used in connection with the shoulder engaging backrest portion.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In its general conception, the present invention includes a seat designated generally as A and an upright backrest designated generally as B. The seat and backrest may rock together on a chair iron as used in office seating furniture, or, the invention may be embodied in the seat of an automotive vehicle where a non-tilting back would be used. In other words, since in all forms the present invention contemplates mounting the lumbar engaging member in a manner to be carried solely by the vertical backrest for all of its movements relative to the fixed shoulder engaging portion, all of the structural features relate to the common end of supporting the lumbar section in a thoroughly practical and erhcient manner which lends itself to economical mass production features.

Referring first to FlGS. 1-5, it will be observed that the backrest B includes a primary frame 1 which may be of generally rectangular formation, and, if desired, of hollow or similar tubing, to support and carry in fixed relation thereto, a suitable shoulder panel assembly designated generally as S.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the shoulder engaging assembly S may consist of a hollow box-like structure including an inner wall portion '1 and an outer wall portion 2 stamped of sheet material and having telescopically interfitting side and edge flanges, welded or otherwise bonded together as indicated at 3, to provide a rigid support for the upholstery 4- covering the useable side of the panel.

It is preferred, although not necessarily essential, that the upholstery 4- of the shoulder rest member be supported at its lower edge by a forwardly and downwardly inclined bridge piece 5 having the offset lateral ends 66 which are secured to opposite frame members 1-l, while the upper portion of the body 5 is provided with an angular flange 5a secured to the lower edge of the panel li-Z. In the embodiment shown, the bridge piece 5 is inclined forwardly not only for more conveniently conforming to the contour of the human back, but to also provide a certain degree of operating clearance for the swingable means for suspending the lumbar engaging section L, as will presently appear.

This lumbar engaging section includes suitable upholstery 7 secured to a back plate 8. The back plate is medially connected to the leaf 9 of a hinge whose companion leaf it) has a pintle connecting the leaves biased by a spring 11 (FIG. 3) so that the leaves normally are hinged into parallel relation as shown in the full line position of FIG. 2. Thus, when body pressure is first applied to the projected lower edge of the lumbar section, the latter will move to the upper dotted line position, and when pressure is released, it will automatically move back to the original full line position.

Moreover, the spring pintle ll of the hinge constitutes the first pivot point of a compound pivot for the lumbar section. The second pivot point is provided by the hooks H of a hanger assembly for the lumbar suspension means, as will now more fully appear.

That is to say, the lumbar section L is connected directly to the backrest frame by adjustable and spring urged supporting means of said hanger assembly.

The leaf ill of the hinge is secured to a. first relatively short channel member 12. This plate is provided with slot 13 in its web to cooperate with the stud 14 of a set screw 15' secured to the longer or second channel member 16 to which a transversely disposed strap 17 is secured. This strap has the opposite oifset arms 18 whose upper ends are formed into hooks H, while the lower walls 19 of the wings are turned upwardly as indicated at 2%.

The hooks H, clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, are

intended to engage in slots 21; formed in the included angle formed by flanges 22 and 23 of a support formed by said flanges. Thus, the parts l7, 118, H, and 21, 22, 23, along with parts 9-12 constitute hanger means for suspending the lumbar section L from the backrest frame B.

The flange 22 is provided with suitable openings to receive a screw fastening 24 which, in the arrangement shown, serves to unite the flange 22 with a flange of the back 2 of the box-like shoulder rest, after passing through registering openings in the hollow cross member 25 of the backrest frame 1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the arms 18 carried by the upper end of the second supporting channel 17 are free to rock or swing in the openings 21 and constitute the second pivot for the lumbar section.

In order to yieldingly project the entire lumbar section L to the supporting position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, suitable springs are provided for that purpose. For example, as will be seen from FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the webs 19 of the arms 18 are provided with openings 1% to receive the heads 27 of screw fastenings whose threaded shank portions 23 pass through a nut 2? bearing against the lower end of spring 33*. As shown, two of such are desirable, one for each arm to equalize the movement of the lumbar section. These springs are therefore confined between the adjustable nut 2% and the head of the fastener 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, so that the channel 16 of the lumbar section assembly will be normally thrust forwardly as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. In other words, the springs 30 tend to normally push the lumbar section L over the rear of the seat A, and, when the lumbar section L is subjected to full body pressure, the springs 30 will be compressed.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that the present invention includes a seat A, backrest B, a relatively fixed shoulder panel, and an occupant responsive lumbar section S, mounted on yielding supporting means 94st inelusive.

Also, it is now apparent that the lumbar section L is pivotally supported on the hinge l1 and also by the hooks H to provide the compound pivoting action de sired. The first movement immediately permits the lumbar section L to adjust itself to the lumbar region of the occupant, md, when the latter fully pushes back on the lumbar member, the feeling of supporting pressure in the lumbar region of the anatomy will become increasingly apparent to suit the requirements of the seated occupant.

I claim:

1. Seating means comprising, in combination,

a horizontal seat,

an upright backrest,

a fixed shoulder panel on the upper portion of the backrest,

a lumbar section,

and supporting means for the lumbar section, said means including,

a slotted member secured to the backrest adjacent the lower portion of the shoulder panel,

a hanger assembly pivotally carried by said slotted member,

and compound pivot means in said assembly for holding the lumbar section in projected position to first conform with the lumbar region of the occupant and thereafter to exert pressure on said lumbar region as the occupant leans toward the shoulder panel.

2. Seating means comprising, in combination,

a horizontal seat,

an upright backrest,

a bridge piece carried by and disposed transversely of the backrest and having a forwardly inclined portion,

a fixed shoulder panel on the backrest having its lower portion overlying said bridge piece,

a lumbar section,

and supporting means for the lumbar section, said means including, a slotted member secured to the backrest adjacent the lower portion of the shoulder panel,

a hanger assembly pivotally carried by said slotted member,

and compound pivot means in said assembly for holding the lumbar section in projected position to first conform with the lumbar region of the occupant and thereafter to exert pressure on said lumbar region as the occupant leans toward the shoulder panel.

3. Seating means comprising, in combination,

a horizontal seat,

an upright backrest,

a fixed shoulder panel on the upper portion of the backrest,

a lumbar section,

means for suspending the lumbar engaging section adjacent and 13310 the fixed shoulder panel, whereby its lower edge portion projects over the rear area of the seat to engage and follow the body movements of the occupant prior to the lumbar section being in substantial vertical alignment with the shoulder panel,

said means comprising,

an adjustable support including first and second adjustable members having their inner faces in slidable engagement,

means for selectively securing said members in a fixed position after the lumbar section has been moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the lower edge of the fixed shoulder panel,

a spring hinge having one leaf connected to said lumbar section and the other leaf connected to the first member to provide a pivot,

and spring urged hanger means connected to the second adjustable member of the bracket to maintain the lower portion of the lumbar section projected as aforesaid until the occupant of the chair exerts pressure thereon.

4. Seating means according to claim 3, wherein,

the hanger means includes an angle member secured to the backrest and having openings to receive hooks carried by said second adjustable member.

5. Seating means according to claim 3, wherein,

springs are interposed between the backrest and the hanger means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,548 Chichester Aug. 1, 1876 233,140 Candrian Oct. 12, 1880 272,579 Paulding Feb. 20, 1883 855,656 McNamara June 4, 1907 2,685,327 Pitman Aug. 3, 1954 

1. SEATING MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HORIZONTAL SEAT, AN UPRIGHT BACKREST, A FIXED SHOULDER PANEL ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BACKREST, A LUMBAR SECTION, AND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR THE LUMBAR SECTION, SAID MEANS INCLUDING, A SLOTTED MEMBER SECURED TO THE BACKREST ADJACENT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SHOULDER PANEL, A HANGER ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY SAID SLOTTED MEMBER, AND COMPOUND PIVOT MEANS IN SAID ASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING THE LUMBAR SECTION IN PROJECTED POSITION TO FIRST CONFORM WITH THE LUMBAR REGION OF THE OCCUPANT AND THEREAFTER TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SAID LUMBAR REGION AS THE OCCUPANT LEANS TOWARD THE SHOULDER PANEL. 